FEATURE: Things you'll easily relate to as a pinoy during "Undas"

By: Jeremiah Luis Red

Filipinos just love holidays and there are just so many celebrations we have each year -- Birthdays, Valentine's day, fiestas, Anniversaries, new year and many more. And then, there is Undas (Araw ng mga Patay), the Filipino version of Halloween. It is one of the big events that we commemorate each year. We list down the things you'll easily relate to as a Pinoy during Undas:

1. Visiting the dead 
It has been the tradition of the Filipinos to visit the dead. They commemorate their dead loved ones by spending a night at the cemetery. Of course, many Filipinos think visiting the dead is better than the dead visiting the living. Creepy!

2. Cemeteries become camping grounds
Setting up tents beside the grave of their loved one to prepare for an overnight stay. Lucky for those who are at a lawn cemetery where hurting your back and having an uncomfortable sleep is not going to be a problem while you are looking after the dead (or maybe as they look after you while you sleep.)

3. Having a long holiday
All Saints' Day falls on November 1 and All Souls day falls on November 2, but for the Filipinos, the whole 3 days(including October 31) is dedicated to the annual Undas. This long holiday calls for a trip to visit their dead loved ones, specifically those that are situated in the provinces.

4. Big family reunion
Noche buena, Media Noche, and other big family events are signs that Filipinos love to gather together and eat. This is also true during Undas when they have a chance to dine with family members who already passed.

5. Offering food to the dead
"Pag-aatang" is a Filipino age-old tradition where they offer food to the dead. The plate usually contains their dead relative's favorite meal and is placed on top of the grave or in front of a photograph. Who knows? They might already be craving for their favorite adobo!

6. Playing with melted candle wax
Spending long hours at the cemetery could be pretty boring. And one thing most Filipinos do to entertain themselves is playing with melted candle wax! Gathering the melted waxes on the floor or on top of the grave and turning those into a ball with your cousins. Nostalgic!

7. Pangangaluluwa
In the usual Halloween season, kids go door to door in their scary or superhero costumes to collect candies and treats but for the Filipinos we practice pangangaluluwa. During pangangaluluwa, a group of people stop by different houses on the night of All Saints' Day, singing and asking for alms and prayers. The people represents the souls in the purgatory begging for the prayers of the living to help them go to heaven.

8. Watching Halloween's special segments on TV and reading horror stories
Halloween is not complete without watching KMJS' Gabi ng Lagim or Rated K's Halloween special with your family or friends(no one has the guts to watch those alone). We enjoy watching clips of the psychic, Stargazer while she communicates with evil spirits. We also enjoy reading horror stories even though we know that after we read, we can't get a good night sleep. We don't know in fact if these stuffs are real but what do we have to lose if we make fun out of it?

Being a part of a Filipino family surely brings us various experiences. Especially during these kind of occasions. As a Filipino, we are part of a diverse culture. Although we are now in a different generation and some are now bounded by different beliefs, it is evident that a Filipino heart dwells in each of us.